Hamilton's Club 17 Gold volleyball team repeats as state champions, heads to nationals

Wednesday

Jun 11, 2014 at 8:00 AM

By Dan.D'Addona@hollandsentinel.com (616) 546-4276

Jordan Pikaart and her Hamilton High School volleyball teammates spend countless hours together during the season.They are just getting warmed up. In the offseason, the majority of the varsity team plays together on a club team called Dig This.They definitely dig the bond they share, and it has translated to a lot of success.Dig This won the Michigan Junior Volleyball Association and AAU 17 Club Gold state championship on June 1."Coming back to defend the state championship, we went into it with a little different attitude," Pikaart said. "It was our goal to go in with the attitude to win again and send all the other teams home."The team won the same state title last year as 16-year-olds.It is no ordinary club team."The biggest difference is when you put together a club team, it is kind of the best of the best from around the area," Pikaart said. "Clubs recruit girls. A lot of them have been playing together for a long time. It gives is a bit more of a challenge. Everyone is so dedicated to the sport when you play club volleyball. It is a lot more competitive."There were 28 teams in the state tournament with Dig This winning all seven of its matches, including beating Oakland Elite Volleyball in straight sets for the title.The victory comes with an automatic qualification for the national club tournament in Florida, which begins June 21."Going down to nationals gives you such a rush," Pikaart said. "There are 200 courts, 1,500 teams and everyone is screaming. You get so pumped to play."Pikaart, an all-state outside hitter, is joined on the team by several Hamilton teammates, including Destiny Alexander, Erin Meiste, Courtney VandeVorde, Jessica Carlson, Melanie Kanine and Taylor Lane — as well as Hudsonville's Jennie Anderson and Madelyn Notenbaum. The team is coached by Jeff La Fluer."It helps a lot," Pikaart said of the team's bond. "We learn to communicate with each other really well. You know how everyone is going to react. We all have a pretty special bond that translates from school to club. It is an advantage that most other teams don't have."Alexander is the team's setter and communicates every play with the entire team."Most teams don't get that kind of an opportunity," she said. "I know going into it, every team went in there gunning for us. They are all through different gyms and companies and we are the only one that is just a school team. I think that is really cool."Now, they are headed to nationals."It is an experience for all of us that we will never forget, and we kind of get to do it with our high school varsity team," Alexander said. "I am excited."Even though the high school season is months away, these Hamilton seniors are ready to keep the success going."I am pretty confident about this year," Alexander said. "I know how much talent we have and what we are capable of. Hopefully this year, we put it all together."